Kerry says Syria chemical weapons use "undeniable"

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Kerry says Syria chemical weapons use "undeniable"

(Xinhua) 15:41, August 27, 2013

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday that the chemical-weapons use against civilians in Syria is inexcusable and "undeniable," and that President Barack Obama will make an informed decision on how to respond.

"Indiscriminate slaughter of civilians, the killing of women and children and innocent bystanders by chemical weapons is a moral obscenity," Kerry said.

"By any standard, it is inexcusable and -- despite the excuses and equivocations that some have manufactured -- it is undeniable," he said.

Obama on the same day called Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd over the alleged chemical attacks in the Syrian conflict.

In the telephone conversation, Obama and Rudd "discussed possible responses by the international community and how to chart a way forward on this crisis," the White House said in a statement, adding they are concerned about the reported use of chemical weapons in Syria against civilians near Damascus on Aug. 21.

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Susan Rice met a delegation led by Yaakov Amidror, chairman of Israel's National Security Council. The White House said that their topics covered Iran, Egypt, Syria and other regional security issues.

Obama called British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande over the weekend as his administration was considering a series of military options, ranging from a cruise missile strike to a more sustained air campaign against Syria.

The Syrian government on Monday denied and slammed the allegations of chemical-weapons use. President Bashar al-Assad said that the West's claims that his government used chemical weapons were "an insult to common sense," adding the United States would face "failure" if it decided to intervene militarily in Syria.

However, Kerry said "What is before us today is real, and it is compelling." He noted that while investigators are still gathering additional evidence on the ground, the U.S. side has no doubt on what had transpired in the suburbs of Damascus, and that Syrian government has the capability to launch such an attack.

Accusing the al-Assad government of destroying evidence, Kerry said "our sense of basic humanity is offended not only by this cowardly crime, but by the cynical attempt to cover it up."

Kerry said Obama "believes there must be accountability for those who would use the world's most heinous weapons against the world's most vulnerable people," and that he will be making an informed decision on how to respond.

Kerry, however, gave no timeline as to when Obama will make the decision.

Since reports of chemical-weapons use in Syria emerged last week, Washington has kept mum about how it will respond.